Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

AIBU to not understand why nobody seems to know about Nuvaring?

87 replies

Ruralninja · 10/03/2015 21:51

There seems to be so little information/promotion of the Nuvaring as a method of contraception. It's the same hormones as the combined pill, but it is a flexible plastic ring you insert in your fanjo, leave for three weeks, then remove for the week of your period. The advantage is a greatly reduced level of hormones required for contraceptive effect as it is delivered locally. Somewhat ironically, I used to fly to Ireland to get mine when it was approved in the EU for use, but not in the UK. It now is approved in the UK and would surely be a great option for so many women. You can't feel it during sex and all you have to do is set a reminder on your phone - once to take it out, once to put the next one in. I loved it and used it for five years. Hope at least one person looks into it as a result of my post.

OP posts:

Dowser · 11/03/2015 23:39

Pacific Dogwood...can you still get the Dutch cap . I thought that was great.

I hated taking the pill. Only used it for 6 months. After our last child husband had the snip.

That was great I was only 29 so no more worries.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 12/03/2015 00:39

Pacific Dogwood...can you still get the Dutch cap . I thought that was great

Do you mean cervical cap or a diaphragm? If my recent experience is anything to go by then its neigh on impossible to get a cervical cap (the small one that suctions over your cervix. And it's almost as hard but not impossible to get the diaphragm (the bigger one that you can pretend is a frisbee)

It took me 8 weeks the GP's didn't the GUM didn't the FPC did but nobody was trained to fit one apart from one lady (who weirdly was my HV back in the early 90's) when I finally got to see her my fitting turned into a training event.

It's a bloody good job I have a sense of humour because 8 FP nurses practised with a dummy fitting kit and my vagina whilst having amusing conversations about how underrated they are

itsbetterthanabox · 12/03/2015 08:43

No one answered so I found out.
No I can't use it as a migraine sufferer, nor the patch. That's shit. I would definately use this otherwise!

Dowser · 12/03/2015 11:12

I meant the diaphragm.

Qwebec · 12/03/2015 14:22

When I went to India for 2 months I really did not want to have my period there. My GP told me to change my nuvaring every 3 weeks. No need to refrigerate it. It is recommended to refrigerate it if you will not use it in the next 2 months but less than that it's not necessary.

I wanted to use the diaphragm, my GP told me that they are only slightly more efficient than unprotected sex, something like 20-25% efficient. Apperently it's really difficult to set it right. Is it true?

BathshebaDarkstone · 12/03/2015 14:26

I'm very happy with my implant thanks. Only once every 3 years do I have to go through the terror of getting it removed and replaced. Although I've discovered that's what's making me hungry all the time.

wol1968 · 12/03/2015 14:32

Qwebec I used to use the diaphragm in my youth before cystitis became an issue, and I can promise you that used with a spermicide they are just as effective as condoms. Certainly better than 20-25% effective (that would be withdrawal, wouldn't it, or the 'rhythm' method, neither of which are recommended by the medical profession.

I now have a Mirena (on my 3rd) and I'm perfectly happy with it. No periods so it saves me a fortune on sanpro.

Rainbunny · 12/03/2015 14:54

It's been around for over a decade in the USA. I have a couple of friends who used it, both stopped within months and switched to other methods. Both experienced pain and other symptoms with it and in one case it somehow "flipped out" during sex, she didn't notice for a few days until she saw her cat playing with a "hairband" which turned out to be her Nuvaring! Their experiences are only anecdotal of course but few doctors offer it these days after the class action lawsuits against the manufacturer. If you want a limited does hormonal contraceptive the mirena coil is great. At least 10 different friends use it happily.

redexpat · 12/03/2015 19:25

Yes I think the same about the patch. I'm always recomending it on here, but it is more expensive and I know GPs and GUM clinics are under pressure to fit longer lasting contraception.

I have actually had to inform 2 Drs of it's existence. I found that a bit worrying. Another one was very curious, and asked lots of questions, as did my beautician at legwax time.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 12/03/2015 19:43

It has much the same effectiveness rate as condoms and no its not hard at all to use

PacificDogwood · 12/03/2015 20:04

AFAIK it can be difficult to find a clinic/HCP who knows how to fit diaphragm and caps. I know I'd not have a clue.

The cat playing with the 'hairband' made me LOL - bet it was not that amusing to her at the time!

IME the bottom line is that every single method of contraception has its downsides (and of course its USPs) and we all kind of have to chose our poison. And that choice may change during a lifetime. And what works for your sister/bestie/neighbour/sleb in Hello magazine/woman you spoke to on the train may or may not work/agree with you.

I think we are really lucky to have the choice that we have tbh. I think it gets forgotten that it's not that long ago that the choice was abstinence or risk pregnancy.

Oh, and the withdrawal 'method' IMO = TTC
Billings ('rhythm') method when learnt from somebody experienced and combined with good knowledge of ones body and a respectful partner, can work really well, both for the purposes of TTC and to avoid pregnancy.

Me, I've had the combined pill, the implant and currently the copper coil. I am hopeful that the menopause will soon remove all need for worrying about this particular aspect of being a woman

FatCunt · 12/03/2015 20:10

The rhythm method might not work well for me, since in my experience, I experience an unignorable need for immediate sex when I'm about to ovulate. Doesn't matter if I'm a hundred miles from any willing partner, stuck on a hospital ward, suicidally depressed, grieving, whatever - if I'm ovulating there'd better be some sex happening

I hate ovulating. The joyful someone's-stabbing-me-in-the-ovary feeling, the cramps, the feeling like I've been taken over by a horny sex-beast (which is fun if there's someone available, less so if not).

TeWiSavesTheDay · 12/03/2015 20:13

I read about nuvaring on MN, tried it out and really like it. (I have said this before!)

I've noticed a few American comedies making jokes about them recently so maybe they will eventually drift into more common use in the UK once people are more aware.

The main selling point for me was that if I didn't get on with it I could just take it out myself. Massive plus over the other longer term methods.

leedy · 13/03/2015 10:29

Yes, I wouldn't be up for using natural family planning on its own either, given that the days that you're meant to avoid for unprotected rumpo are the days I tend to really want sex.

Qwebec · 14/03/2015 00:57

Wow impressed about the diaphragm being so effective, less so with my GP misleading me. No sex clinics here so there would be no one beside maybe my GP to teach me how to insert it. I guess a youtube tutorial is not enough?

NeedsAsockamnesty · 14/03/2015 16:26

Do you have access to a nurse? Preferably an older one?

Horsemad · 14/03/2015 22:04

The diaphragm is a really great method of contraception imo. I used it after my 2nd child and never had any scares, despite DH only having to look at me for me to be pregnant

It's really easy to use and no hormonal side effects, what's not to like?

ClockwiseCat · 14/03/2015 22:12

DH would definitely get a lot more BJs if he lured me in with sexual gelato

Original poster

Ruralninja · 14/03/2015 23:09

I'm very pleased that the issue of gelato has been revisited

OP posts:

Arsenic · 14/03/2015 23:39

I've sent DH out for Ben and Jerrys. Will report back.

Is it sized like the mooncup do you think? One scoop for non-mothers under 30 and two scoops for everyone else?

ClockwiseCat · 15/03/2015 00:09

I hope you meant that Ninja :o

(and to return to the original purpose of your thread I had never heard of the Nuvaring before so your mission has succeeded!)

HoneySwampDragonInMourning · 15/03/2015 00:31

I was very pointedly told when I had my diaphram fitted that the statistics were so varied for its effectiveness because they were based on pregnancies occurring to users.

Who may have left it on the bathroom shelf.

I can confirm that it is a very very effective long term contraception option, unless you attempt to use it when you are very very drunk. Then it's not as effective.

As a rule of thumb, if it takes you three attempts to get the spermicide on it, your too drunk to insert it properly. Hth.

I'm currently trying Zoelly. I'm spotty, have gained weight and getting spotting after three months. I quite fancy the patch, is the failure rate quite high then? I really don't want more babies.

ArabellaStrange · 15/03/2015 00:33

FC, in terms of getting a coil fitted you can get it done with a local anaesthetic for your cervix before they do the actual fitting. It's a bit like having your gums numbed except it's in your lady bits. I also took a slightly fuzzy making pain killer before I went. I remember the experience as being uncomfortable, but not painful. unlike having it removed, that did hurt, but it is only once every three to five years and childbirth was much worse

FatCunt · 15/03/2015 00:46

If they have anaesthetic why don't the use it all the time? Bet they wouldn't ram something that size up men's cocks without pain relief.

ArabellaStrange · 15/03/2015 00:59

I rang lots of fpa clinics until I found one which offered the local anaesthetic option. The fact it isn't done as standard is ridiculous! But I guess they think that as the pain is quite brief, that they will just do it without and save money.
No way would they think about doing similar to men but because we have babies, we can take shit like that .

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread